CHAPTER THREE

-:- ROCK -:-

Walking into church, I take my usual seat and after folding my arms over my chest, I lean my head back to rest on the wall, closing my eyes. Thoughts of things to be done, organized, and how to get back to what I love best workwise, which is mechanics and spraying, instead of paperwork.

Once all the brothers are here, the door closes, and Axel taps the gavel. We know to pay full attention or we’d be in trouble and not one of us likes to be on Axel’s bad side. Opening my eyes, I sit forward and let it be seen I’m not sleeping.

“Okay brothers, Mia isn’t feeling great this morning, so if we can buzz through I would appreciate it. Now I’ve spoken to the officers and they have nothing to report, so let’s move to other things. First, TwoCents has spoken to me about a second coffee house, but Mia has been speaking to Suzy and Graham. You all know who they are and what they are to Mia. They want to retire and I’m thinking since Liam was speaking of another coffee house that we purchase the diner and either upgrade it to an upmarket coffee place, or keep as a diner, but again, make it something worth visiting.” Axel looks from one of us to another, waiting for a response.

“I reckon it’s a good idea, but as Liam wants to have another place, I think we throw him in the shit, and he puts a new manager at the coffee house and he takes over the diner. There is an apartment above, too.” I can’t help the grin because Liam does not know I’ve just thrown him under the bus.

“That’s a fuckin’ good idea,” Chisel mumbles.

“I agree. He wants to expand, let him do it, and report back,” Ruger states.

Axel smirks. “Okay, let’s have a quick vote. Who’s for buying the diner, and Liam being the donkey who gets landed with it.”

‘Aye’ is quickly thrown around the room from all the brothers, and some fist bumps are seen too. I smirk because Liam’s life is going to get very busy.

“Okay, TwoCents, give Graham a jingle and make an offer that suits. Don’t undercut them, or Mia will have your guts. When Mia is feeling a little better, she’ll be happy to go with you and see them. She hasn’t seen them in a long time, but she keeps in touch as she gives them a FaceTime each month.” Axel continues, “I reckon if the place was brought up to date, it could be a goldmine for the club. Or we can sell on at some stage if we want, we’ll have options.”

“I’ll do that, Pres.” TwoCents jots a note on his pad, and I grin when I see he’s using a pen rather than a pencil.

“Any other business?” Axel asks, and it’s time for me to step forward.

“Yeah, I have things I need to bring to the table. First, Bren has been working extra at the shop, and I think we need her to do a few hours a week because the computer system keeps going to shit, ‘cause let’s face it, we are fucking useless with it. We have an appointment book we put clients' bookings down because every time we do it on the system, we fuck it up and Bren has to fix it.” If I was capable I’d be embarrassed at the admission, but hey, I’m a biker, sue me. “We owe her a bonus ‘cause she’s been doing extra keeping the system straight, and she’s been cleaning, which she’s not paid to do.”

“Okay, Forest, get Heather to speak to Bren and Alf. Sort this shit out. We are not having Bren work for nothing. It’s not how we do things.” Axel is giving Forest a pointed look and with a nod in return, Axel turns back to the room. “I can see you have more to say, Rock.”

“Yeah, Pres. The building next door to Hot Hogs has, at last, come up for sale. I want us to buy it. We need to split the hogs from the cages, get some more staff onboard, and bring the place up to the standard that will bring in top payers.”

“What do you all think of that?” Axel asks, and the brothers quickly give their agreement. “TwoCents, you and PT make sure the building is solid in every way. Then make an offer, get it as low as you can because we’ll have to equip it, which isn’t gonna be cheap.”

“It’s a good building, and solid. I don’t think structure-wise we’ll have a problem. It will need everything ripping out and replacing. It’s been empty for years, but the fucker wouldn’t sell it. I found out the owner died and the daughter wants the place sold,” Fist says.

“Interesting. I wonder why the old fucker didn’t want to sell it?” Buzz tapping his fingers on the table has that look that says he wants to know why to every question he has floating in his mind.

“No idea. I’ve never seen him the entire time we’ve had Hogs running,” Dice states.

“Next thing I need to speak about is the group Silk Sisters Rock. Mikala Mitchell, the lead singer, has contacted…” I pause at the shocked voices flowing around the room.

“Shut the fuck up and let Rock speak,” Axel snarls.

“She is going on a road trip around Europe. Someone at the Restless Demons MC has recommended us to her, and she wants her hog overhauled and resprayed. Now, this is a great opportunity to get more celebrity clients, upscale our clientele and earn extra green.”

Dice interrupts, “This is what we’ve worked for, brothers. Getting recognition for doing a good job in everything we are doing, whether it be the hogs, cages, construction, the range, or the coffee house. We’ve always put our best forward and this is a reward for all that effort.”

“We are having to move clients around to fit this in for Mikala, as she is going fairly soon. My issue is we may lose some clients who don’t want to wait two weeks longer for their work to be done,” I add, getting to the bones of why I’m speaking about this in church.

“Well, tell them to fuck off. A client such as Mikala is worth more than a few others, so let them wait or they can go elsewhere,” Axel states, and I can tell by the look on his face that no more will be said on this issue.

Clay chuckles, “Well, we are sorted on that, Rock. We just tell any complainers to fuck off.” Church fills with laughter as brothers throw out suggestions of how to get rid of complaining clients.

“Last thing we want to speak about is a graffiti artist in town. He’s young, only twenty-two, with no record and no drug issues. He’s living rough but working at the Mall as a security guard. Krylon thinks he’d be great for Hot Hogs as a sprayer because his work is outstanding. I’d like everyone’s thoughts on bringing him in and having him work beside us at Hogs, work cleaning the place up if necessary, and anywhere else of the club’s businesses if we can’t keep him busy. But rent him the vacant room at the garage house.” I get it all out fast because it’s one of those times if you are interrupted you never get everything that needs to be said, actually said.

“Bring him in. Let me meet him,” Axel states with a firm tone in his voice.

“Is he the one that’s been doing the artwork on Worth Street?” Drag asks.

“Yeah,” Krylon replies.

“Well, it’s fuckin’ stunning. If he can spray on hogs and cages like that, he’ll be an excellent addition to your team, Rock,” Drag continues, and he looks over at Axel. “I’m up for giving him a chance. We need the background story, but if Krylon is up for sponsoring him, then I’ll second it.”

“You know sponsoring means if he fucks up, you’ve fucked up too. You’ll pay the penalty along with him.” Axel gives that feral grin, and I see Krylon swallow with nerves.

“Yeah, I’ll sponsor him, and I’ll give him a long talk before I bring him to see you, Pres. He’ll have a choice of joining the team or not.” Krylon rubs the back of his neck, and we all know how he’s feeling because, one way or another, we’ve all been in his position.

“I’ll meet him, then we decide if we give him a chance or not. Anything else?” Axel is ready to leave and we can all see he’s getting itchy to get back to Mia.

Turning my head to look at Specs, who surprises everyone with his topic. “I’ve found this Samantha Roberts. You know, the one whose sister slugged Drag.”

Brothers laugh and throw comments around. Drag rolls his eyes, which has more laughter and insults thrown his way. “What about her?” Drag asks.

“Well, it’s interesting. She was knocked up by a Dragon, but sadly said Dragon died in a collision before the baby was born. From what I’ve found, he didn’t even know he was gonna be a father. Anyway, this Samantha chick has left the country. She’s now living in Canada, along with a boyfriend, who I think she’s palmed off as the baby's father.

“The interesting part is the sister, Kayla Roberts, has washed her hands of Samantha and they’ve not spoken from just after she slugged Drag.” Specs grins every time he mentions the slugging part, much to Drag’s annoyance. “I’m going to watch the situation, and if I think the baby needs family to step in, I’ll speak to Kayla and I’ll speak to the President of the MC Dragon was a brother of…I’m not saying which MC, it’s not relevant until it is.”

I can understand the last part. We don’t want, or need, to get involved in another MC’s business. But if it’s covering the welfare of a brother’s child, then yeah, we’d have to step in, and at the minimum, let them know what is happening.

“Okay, Specs, you see me later today. I want the name of the MC, and the brother that died. Keep me informed of every move that bitch makes. Now, let’s call it a day. I need to check on Mia.” Axel slams the gavel down and stomps out of church, leaving us all watching him leave as though his ass is on fire.

Walking out of church, we all congregate in the common room, grabbing a beer from the bar. I know Silver and Beer are working today at Club Whisky and TJs, but the other businesses are closed with it being Sunday.

Meat is stomping around in the kitchen, throwing pans around like they’ve pissed him off. The Three Stooges have come into the common room and are sitting at a table in the back of the room. Staying well out of Meat’s way, it seems.

“What’s wrong with Meat?” I ask Dice, who’s taken the seat next to mine.

“Seems he wanted to bring up the stove again. He’s eager to have a new one. A modern commercial one he’s gotten his eye on. Axel isn’t bending on replacing anything at this point. But you know Meat. Axel will get up one morning and the kitchen will have been remodeled while he was sleeping,” Dice laughs.

“Fuck, I’d love to see that. But to be fair, if he wants a new kitchen I’d vote for it. He can have whatever the fuck he wants if he keeps serving up the meals he does. I’ve never eaten as well as I do now.” My stomach rumbles loudly, and both Dice and I laugh because my stomach obviously agrees with my way of thinking.